Modeling Journey

Liberal MP "predicted" fall of government

First the NDP tape and now this. Is this coalition a result of the economic statement or was this planned well in advance? I wouldn't mind a crystal ball like Mr. Lee seems to have.
-Darryl

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Derek Lee somehow called it.

The day after the federal Liberals suffered their second straight election loss in October, the Scarborough-Rouge River MP made a prediction.

"I personally think we'd be lucky to get to Christmas without a collapse of the government," Lee said, on a day when most media speculation was about when Liberal leader Stephane Dion might resign.

The 20-year veteran MP went further, saying "a day of reckoning" was coming soon in the House of Commons. The Liberals could head a new government if the three opposition parties agreed; that may be unprecedented, but not impossible, he said.

Seven weeks later, the unprecedented agreement is signed.

If the Liberal-New Democrat coalition is allowed, Scarborough's six Liberal MPs may form part of a government after all.

Lee said there was a "palpable" feeling in the House of Commons last week: Prime Minister Stephen Harper, through arrogance and failing to offer an economic stimulus plan, had "blown it" and crystallized the entire opposition against him.

The three-party agreement the Liberals and NDP signed with the Bloq Quebecois - who will support the coalition but won't be part of it - should be greeted "with a lot of anger," said George Khouri, Conservative candidate this fall in Pickering-Scarborough East.

"These guys are trying to force a coup d'etat because of what they could not win at the ballot box," said Khouri, arguing the federal Tories have been "incredible stewards of the economy" and were rewarded with more seats and votes.

"People will take to the streets" rather than let the separatist Bloq from Quebec hold the balance of power in Canada, Khouri predicted.

To work, the opposition plan requires the government to be defeated in a House confidence vote, then for Governor General Michaelle Jean to allow a coalition government instead of calling an election

Pauline Browes, a former Conservative MP for Scarborough and cabinet minister, called the coalition an "outrageous" power grab many Canadians already view as "politically illegitimate."

"I've talked to a lot of people in the last 48 hours. They're just astounded and I'm astounded that this would happen," she said Tuesday.

Lee tried to dismiss fears about the coalition depending on the Bloc.

"They are MPs, elected just like me," he said, saying the coalition will be "government from the centre and not the right."

Coalitions have worked in other countries, said Natalie Hundt, the New Democratic candidate in Scarborough Centre.

This week, Hundt said she hopes the coalition arrangement promising her party six seats in a federal cabinet for the first time lets the NDP pursue its goals for Canadians. "Six seats is better than none," Hundt said.

http://www.insidetoronto.ca/article/60344